- Although California is extremely geographically diverse, many visitors are most eager to reach its famous coastline.
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California’s rich geography provides a wide variety of scenery—from its beaches at the edge of the Pacific Ocean to the snow-capped Sierra Nevada to the vast Central Valley—the list is inexhaustible.
Los Angeles is most popular with folks with stars in their eyes, while San Francisco offers a small-city European charm. Beach bums can check out the wild shores of the Lost Coast or the surfable waves of Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, Ventura or Huntington Beach.
Napa’s wine country brings oenophiles from all around. Skiiers and snowboarders pack it up for the powder near Lake Tahoe and Mammoth. Rafters and kayakers thrill for the inland rivers, like the American and Tuolumne. Rock climbers and sightseers alike enjoy Yosemite National Park.
The Golden State also boasts the lowest point in North America (Death Valley), and the highest point in the contiguous 48 states (Mount Whitney). It’s no wonder that California has something for everyone.
Destination Facts
- Population: 36,354,327
- Time Zone: -8 GMT (Pacific Standard Time)
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by Connie Werner Reichert March 21, 2008From dog-sledding to kite-boarding to the new Heavenly Flyer, there are adrenaline rush experiences in Tahoe to sate any adventure lover.
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